What’s it like being a Summer Research Intern at an RIU?

In this blog, I will be sharing my experience of what a day in the life on a research internship looked like for me as a final year psychology student!

For some context, during my BSc Psychology with Professional Placement at Newcastle University, I applied for a research scholarship in dementia research with the Newcastle Biomedical Research Centre. 

I applied in January 2026, then found out in March 2026 that I would be starting in July 2026! The application process included a section where I had to report my exam results to date, and a personal statement about what I hoped to gain from the experience. I got paid to work 32 hours for 6 hours in my summer holiday. 

Research internships are great opportunities for you to start applying your skills from your degree within real active research groups. It involves a lot of learning and developing new skills and you really build your independence. However, I’m not going to sugar coat it, they can be competitive, so stay vigilant and ask for advice on your applications.

My advice for finding opportunities 

1. Check your university’s internal careers website 

2. Sign up to mailing lists that advertise internships 

3. Check the big governing bodies and funders for internship advertisements e.g. the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) websites 
4. Ask lecturers via email if they are hosting any research interns 

What did I get up to? 

I was supported to understand a large dataset of memory test scores from real research studies conducted with people with different types of dementia e.g. Dementia with Lewy Bodies and Alzheimer’s. I received supervision from an expert cognitive neuroscientist, who guided me in learning how to use cutting-edge statistical modelling techniques to model and analyse memory/learning processes across these cognitive tests. I also grew a lot of independent research skills, learning how to use R Programming and engaging in independent study to learn statistical methods. 

I attended many lab meetings during my time there, hearing talks from fantastic researchers in the field of dementia about their research. 

Finally, I was kindly given the opportunity to present my research to the lab that I was working in, which is a really important academic skill!

Pros of doing a summer research internship 

As you imagine, the experience:  

1. Helped me apply and develop learning from my degree beyond the modules available on the degree 

2. Allowed me to network within the field  

3. Looks impressive on my future job applications 

4. Provided opportunities to submit my research to conferences and build my academic portfolio 

5. Offered excellent supervision from expert academics! 

People often asked whether it felt as though I didn’t get as a relaxing summer as some other graduates, but my experience was extremely positive; I made friends, was given protected time to do research I enjoyed, and had the opportunity to contribute to the field of dementia which I genuinely care about.

Imogen 😊